Dilemmas of the modern social policies in Poland

The study of socio-economic situation in Poland in 1980 became a point of departure for the author's thought. State of economy set the country serious long term tasks of: a) re-orientation of social and economic policies, b) balancing demand and supplies on the market, c) defining the standard of living on the level of real capacities of the country, d) creating an economic model which would secure effectivity and developement of economy to meet increasing needs of the population. Substantial part of the population as well as the striking workers in 1980 did not realize the gravity of situation. The characteristic feature of postulates advanced at that time was that they were resulted not by the study of actual capacities of the national economy, but by the desire to fulfill often basic, material needs of the population, The two blocs of postulates ratified in the post-strike agreements were quite contrary to the economic situation of Poland. The first group of desiderata referred to increase of fages and social pecuniary benefits (at the existing market disequilibrium). The second group of postulates concerned reductions in worktime and earlier retirements for some social groups. Most of the agreements in the respect of population income increases were realized; yet, higher income not justified by adding to effectiveness of work were one of the reasons which affected augmenting of inflationary gap. In most of the cases the postulates pertaining to reductions in worktime and earlier retirements were materialized. The state was not prepared for so rapid reforms though. As a result production fell e.g. in the important industry of mining. All in all implementation of agreements in the scope of social policies could not produce a lot, contrary to execution of the postulates pertaining to citizens' liberties, freedom of speech and writings etc. The experience of the early 1980's can induce certain conclusions for the future, their implementation can yield positive results and secure future growth of the living standard, by the developement of social infrastructure, among others. Conclusions are the following: 1. The social policies have to be always based on real possibilities of the state and to attribute to its growth. Their goal is to distribute produced goods and services in just and socially accepted way, instead of distributing fiat money without coverage. 2. Limited material possibilities require in turn to define a clear hierarchy of fulfilled needs and to indicate social groups concerned. 3. A distinct division has to be drawn between goods and services distributed within a scheme of social consumption and goods and services consummed directly by persons concerned as individual consumption. Failure to do so became one of the reasons of emergence of high social inequalities in Poland of 1970's. 4. Another question is to include the whole society in social policies, and distribution of consumption funds; the system of authoritarian social policies broke down as its preferences could not suit the society.Digitalizacja i deponowanie archiwalnych zeszytów RPEiS sfinansowane przez MNiSW w ramach realizacji umowy nr 541/P-DUN/201